Guidance

My name is Danielle Matthews and it is my pleasure to be your school counselor. I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with information about Sutherland's counseling program:

Classroom Guidance Lessons

Classrooms lessons are taught monthly. Lesson topics include: character education, social skills, bully prevention, conflict resolution, career awareness, and much more! You will receive specific information monthly through the school newsletter as to what your child will be learning during these lessons.

Small Guidance Groups

Groups are offered to help students with a variety of needs. Groups may focus on topics such as self-esteem, friendship skills, coping with family change, or coping with the death of a loved one. Teachers or parents may request that a student participate in a small group. Parent permission is necessary before a student may participate in a small group.

Individual Counseling

Occasionally, there may be a need for students to work with me on an individual basis. This type of support is short term, solution focused counseling and is not intended to take the place of long term, therapeutic counseling services.

Community Agency Support

I can assist you with referrals to community agencies that offer family support. This may include counseling services, referrals to Clothes to Kids, Hospice, Toys for Tots, Kinship Services Network (an agency that supports grandparents or aunts/uncles that are caring for a family member), Pinellas County Paid Tutor List, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, etc.

Additional Services

I also facilitate the following services at Sutherland:

Intervention Coordinator-Monitoring the academic/behavioral progress of all students.

Gifted screening/testing-This process begins with either a parent or teacher referral.

504 Coordinator-Section 504 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. If eligible, Section 504 ensures that a child with a disability has equal access to an education.

I look forward to another wonderful year at Sutherland. Please contact me by phone at 724-1466, email, or in person if I can help you or your child in any way!